Biomedical subjects

Bechir Zouari

Publications and source records attributed to Bechir Zouari.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in paediatric patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome--early rescue use.

UNLABELLED: In order to determine the response to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), used as an "early rescue" therapy, in a cohort of paediatric patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a prospective clinical study was performed in a tertiary care paediatric intensive care unit. Ten consecutive patients, aged 12 days to 5 years with ARDS and hypoxaemic respiratory failure on conventional ventilation (CV), using a lung protective strategy, were managed with HFOV early in the course of the disease process (median length of CV 4 h). Arterial blood gases, oxygenation index (OI), alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (P(A-a)O2) and PaO2/FIO2 ratio were prospectively recorded prior to HFOV (0 h) and at predetermined intervals throughout the course of the HFOV protocol. There was a significant improvement in PaCO2 4 h after institution of HFOV (P = 0.012). A significant and sustained increase (P < 0.001) in PaO2/FIO2 ratio and a significant and sustained decrease (P < 0.001) in OI and P(A-a)O2 were demonstrated during the HFOV trial. These improvements were achieved 4 h after initiating HFOV (P < 0.05). Eight patients survived. There were no deaths from respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: In paediatric patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and hypoxaemic respiratory failure on conventional ventilation, using a lung protective strategy, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation used as an "early rescue" therapy, improves gas exchange in a rapid and sustained fashion and provides a good outcome. Use of this therapy should probably be considered early in the course of the disease process.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed2004

Health-related quality of life of people with epilepsy compared with a general reference population: a Tunisian study.

PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of persons with epilepsy (PWE) by using the short form survey 36 (SF-36), to compare it with that of a control group and to detect factors influencing it. METHODS: We collected clinical and demographic data and information on health status by using the Arabic translation of the SF-36 questionnaire from two groups: (a) 120 PWE consulting our outpatient clinic during a period of 4 months, and (b) 110 Tunisian citizens, representative of the Tunisian general population, as a control group. RESULTS: The mean age of PWE group was 32.74 years, and 45.5% were men. Idiopathic generalized epilepsies were observed in 44.5% of cases, and symptomatic partial epilepsies, in 30%. The most commonly prescribed drug was sodium valproate (VPA). For the SF-36, PWE had lower scores than the control group for only three subscales: general health perception, mental health, and social functioning. Seizure frequency, time since last seizure, and the antiepileptic drug (AED) side effects were the most important variables influencing the HRQOL among PWE. Seizure-free adults have HRQOL levels comparable to those of the control group. Sociodemographic variables had no influence on the SF-36 subscales. CONCLUSIONS: HRQOL is impaired in Tunisian PWE. The influencing factors identified in this study differ from the previously published data. Several possible reasons such as family support and cultural and religious beliefs are proposed to explain these cross-cultural differences. A larger study should be conducted to verify such findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Therapeutic management and clinical course of severe caustic oesophageal burns in children treated with methyl-prednisolone. Experience at a digestive endoscopic unit].

We reviewed the case histories of 28 children seen at children hospital from 31 December 1991 to 31 December 2001. These children has second and third degree oesophageal burns and they were treated by systemic Methylprednisolone (1000mg/1, 73/m2 SC). We divided the 26 children in four groups according to the time we began the steroids (before or beyond the 24th hours of the accident and according the number of steroids's bolus (less or more than 21 bolus). We analysed the number and the treatment of stricture in each group. High doses of methyl prednisolone seem to decrease the risk of oesophageal stricture. We found no difference between the children treated before the 24th hours and those treated after the 24 hours and those treated with less than 21 bolus and those with more than 21 bolus.

Burns, Chemical↗

PubMed2004

[Erysipelas. Retrospective study of 647 patients].

We conducted a retrospective at the department of dermatology of Charles Nicolle hospital of Tunis between January 1994 and December 2000 to determine the epidemiological, clinical profile and the evolution of erysipelas. A total of 647 patients were studied. The mean age was 44.73 years and sex ratio about 1.55. Erysipelas predominately involved in the lower limbs (91.2%). Antecedents of erysipelas were found in 26.12 %. Portal of entry was found in 76.66% represented essentially by toe-web intertrigo. 26.6% of patients were hospitalised. Erysipelas can be controlled with antibiotics; treatment is essentially based on penicillin G 4 mega units intramuscularly every day (60.58%) for mean duration of 10.13 days. Satisfying results were observed in 87.78%. Erysipelas is common disease source of over-morbidity. Many predisposing factors were incriminated, account for the frequency of recurrence, justifying implement of primary and secondary prevention.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[School failure and epilepsy: a case-control study].

School difficulties and educational inadequacy usually correlate with the child's epilepsy. The target of our study is to discover the most precocious possible the epilepsy and to prevent educational failure in the population of children from 6 to 15 years old. We have carried out a retrospective study on 162 children of an educational age. This population was made up of 100 epileptic children followed over a period of 3 years (1995-1997) and a witness group made up of 62 children selected from brothers and sisters of the study group, with the same sex in default of the opposed sex who are educated. We have noted that at the same age between children from the group of study and children from the witness group. The class of study was significantly inferior in the group of study: the educational average class is 4th against 5th in the witness group P = 0.11. The difference was about one year. The difference of educational results was significant. For the last educational year, the educational mark was 8.99/20 in the group of study against 12/20 in the witness one. P < 10-5. For the last educational semester, the educational mark was 9.5/20 in the group of study against 11.9/20 in the witness group. (P = 3 x 10(-4)).

Adolescent↗